Galway fuel prices among highest in the country

Fuel prices are set to reach an all time high this week and due to rise further over the next fortnight. However, some Galway service stations have already exceeded the top prices as forecast by AA Ireland.

Motorists will face the highest fuel prices ever recorded over the coming weeks with petrol and diesel prices up almost 20 cent on the same time last year.

Drivers lobby group AA Ireland have predicted petrol prices will rise to €1.70 per litre while diesel will go up to €1.60. However, Topaz and Esso service stations around Galway City are already charging almost two cent more than this for fuel.

According to the online fuel price website Pumps.ie, the Esso station on the Tuam Road and Topaz stations on Newcastle Road, Cemetery Cross and College Road are each charging 171.9 cent per litre of petrol and 161.9 cent per litre of diesel.

Serious discrepancies currently exist between city and county fuel prices, with city prices significantly higher than stations elsewhere around the county.

The Topaz service station in Turloughmore is charging 164.9 cent per litre for petrol and 155.9 cent for diesel, seven cent less than its city counterparts. Other Topaz stations around County Galway are charging between three and six cent less per litre of fuel.

The lowest fuel prices in the city are to be found in two Salthill service stations. Maxol and Texaco service stations, both located in Lower Salthill are charging 166.9 cent for petrol and 156.9 cent for diesel.

Tuam residents can avail of some of the cheapest fuel in the county at Corrib Oil on the Tuam Road where a litre of petrol currently costs 158.9 cent and diesel is retailing at 141.39 cent per litre.

According to Conor Faughnan of AA Ireland, higher fuel prices have come as a result of rising oil prices, the drop in the value of the euro and especially Irish tax increases.

This is likely to have a negative impact on household budgets around the county over the coming weeks with another hike expected in the next ten days.

AA correspondent Miriam O’Neill of AA Ireland this week encouraged consumers to shop around and shop smart when it comes to fuel. “Buy in litres instead of according to price, for example buy 20 litres instead of topping up with €20 worth of fuel.”

She also encouraged motorists to keep tabs on how much they are buying and where. “Shop around for the cheapest stations in your area,” she said.

Driving efficiently can have a seriously effect fuel consumption, according to Ms O’Neill. She noted that ensuring tyres are inflated to the correct level, avoiding the transport of heavy loads and keeping the use of air conditioning to a minimum should help improve fuel efficiency and keep fuel expenditure down.